Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new premium international airline, has placed a firm order for 60 Airbus A321neo Family aircraft. The agreement was finalized at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, representing a key milestone for the airline. The signing ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Riyadh Air; Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air; Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus; and Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Executive Vice President of Sales for Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft division.
“This investment will not only support economic growth in the aviation sector but also ensure that Riyadh Air operates one of the most fuel-efficient fleets in the world. It will be critical in advancing Saudi Arabia’s decarbonization goals,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air. “This deal underscores the positive economic impact of Saudi Arabia’s newest airline, both globally and locally, as we contribute to the rapidly expanding Saudi aviation ecosystem.”
Christian Scherer, Airbus’ CEO of Commercial Aircraft, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are proud to welcome Riyadh Air as a new Airbus customer and partner. The latest generation A321neo aircraft will deliver exceptional efficiency for the airline, support its decarbonization objectives, and enhance passenger comfort. We look forward to collaborating with Riyadh Air to achieve Saudi aviation’s ambitious goals.”
The A321neo is the largest and most advanced member of Airbus’ best-selling A320neo Family. Featuring new generation engines and Sharklets, the aircraft delivers a 50% reduction in noise and over 20% savings in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft. It also offers maximum passenger comfort with the widest single-aisle cabin available.
To date, more than 6,700 A321neo aircraft have been ordered by over 90 customers worldwide.
